5 Stages of The Fresh Beat Band

We are no strangers to Nick Jr in this house. It started innocently enough with Yo Gabba Gabba and a little Jack’s Big Music show, we deftly avoided Dora for the better part of a year. Knowing how much Spencer likes music shows, we tried out the Fresh Beat Band. This show, referred to as TFBB by those in the know, is a wacky live action band show in the tradition of the Monkees consisting of Kiki, Marina, Twist and Shout. I still haven’t figured out why the girls have actual names and the boys have nicknames.

Needless to say, Spencer got hooked. I, however, ended up vaguely traumatized and passed though the 5 Stages of Grief:

Denial: What is this show? How could something so awful get made?

Anger: Why? Why? WHY GOD WHY? Why don’t they even rehearse? This is their job and they can’t lip-sync properly. This is stupid.

Bargianing: Well, maybe the budget is low… They have to learn a lot of songs, it’s ok to mess up once or twice. Spencer really likes it. The set design is cool at least.

Depression: These people are so bad and should be ashamed of themselves. DJ Twist (in the house) is probably a millionaire. ::sigh::

Acceptance: You know, this isn’t so bad. Some of the songs are kind of catchy. It is really cute when Spencer sings the Go Bananas song whenever someone says banana. I may or may not sing along.

So, now I’ve submitted to the wonder of TFBB, I want to get a smoothie at the Groovy Smoothy with the gang (wiggly-giggly watermelon, natch). I look forward to new episodes, if only to get a relief from Loco Legs. And then they go and swap out the music store owner, keeping the same name. Original flavor Reed was a hipsterish British bloke in an argyle sweater and skinny jeans. New Reed, well, lets just say he is goofy. And really, was that what the show needed? More goofiness? I think not. But, I’ve adjusted.

And then the summer ads started airing on Nick Jr and I notice that Marina’s hair is different. A darker red, different bangs and I don’t think much of it, but I was surprised by the change. I tweeted as much and someone told me that it was a NEW Marina. Shocking. Apparently the old Marina left to get married and “pursue other projects.” My guess on the projects? Baby.

One of the hallmarks of the show if the rediculous reuse of footage from previous shows into wacky performance/live-action montages. What are they going to do with the new Marina? Re-film everything? That’s unheard of! Will this Marina also be a ventriloquist? Will she also have strangely large bugs bunny feet? And quacking duck slippers? We find out tomorrow. Spencer We can’t wait.

Edited to add: New episodes have been viewed. New Marina is fine, but unfamiliar, so less delightfully campy. She does seem to be slightly more coordinated. I also think she is a brunette dyed red. The bigger news! Shout’s outfit changed and he finally gets t wear pants like a big boy. Also? Maybe no more annoying Junior Beats, but I can’t tell. They graduated music school (cool) in the premiere episode so that opens up some possibilities for new plots. And it looks like all new songs, too. Interesting. It’s like Old Marina never even existed. Obviously.

Is this post written in English? I can’t even tell. We accidentally watched The Wiggles the other day and it was traumatic. Thank God my kid didn’t even like it or I’d be stabbing my eardrums out with a butter knife right now.

[…] {he pretty much only answers to Geo now*} I don’t find the Fresh Beats nearly as annoying as I used to. Luckily, the near constant airings of the Rockstar video keeps me in touch. I mean they still lip […]